The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-24
ToosTINurD FROM FIRsr rAeE.l

1
sifvino crops more than heretofore and
the Great Master has smiled upon US
this wear and abundant harvests are an
ticipated; aud so, on The whole, Mlssis-
sippi in her political, financial, educa-
tionaI and industrial INTERESTS IS IN q
most healthy and excellent condition,
and upon and for this congratulate YOU
Now. fellow citizens, want 10 say
word touching the penitentiary and ITS
conduct in Mississippi; aud before SUP,
hitting what ] have TO say, assert, ana |
defy contradiction, that the penlten-
tiary in a financial point of view mas |
succeeded better daring my admlnlstra-
ton than that of any other establish /
ment in Mississippi. / mean to say that |
more money has been realized from that
source during my term of office than OF |
any other Governor before me. Let II
be understood that the management OF |
the penitentiary convicts has been |
problem about which there are great
differences among our people Durlhg
the radical regime it cost the taxpayers
of the State very largely, and l Will ada
at a time when they were unable TO
meet it. Their burdens were so heavy
that, perhaps, nearly 80 per cent. OF
their landed interests were forfeited TO
to the State for nOn-payment OF taxes,
and it was then believed that 1t was I'M
portant to rid themselves of the burdens
connected with the conduct of the penn.
Tertiary. Finally, the Legislature CT
the State gave the late l.. Richardson
SIS, 900 per year to take 1t. In other
words, they gave him the penitentiary
and whatever else it had within the
walls, allowing him the privilege OF
working all the convicts, or as many as
he desired, upon plantations, or upon
his own, if he so preferred, and gave
him their entire labor, with $4,000 20
accept it. After this policy had been
pursued for some years, Col. j. ;. Ham
ilton and DIR. Hebron agreed to lease the
penitentiary at a small sum. They did
so, and under their contract the convicts
were sub-leased to planters or sub-leased
upon the Mississippi river and to some
few planters in Northeast Mississippi.
This policy was continued until l was
indicted into office in 1888, with lease
extending to 1887. Then, in my inaug-
ural address, stated that | was opposed
to the leasing system. My view was
that the State should keep control of
her own convicts, and that they might
be profitable to her. / was then under
the impression that the labor of the con-
victs should be made toN contribute to
the improvement of the State and to as
sist in developing her resources. The
lease was, however, to continue for
term of years, and therefore the policy
suggested by myself could not be then
adopted. Two years after, in 1885, | re-
iterated my former convictions upon
the subject of the penitentiary and its
convicts. The penitentiary was estab-
lished fifty years ago. For forty-slx
wears of that time, SO far as my knowl-
edge extends, not 80 cents was ever paid
into the State treasury more than was
taken out, from that source. The rent
of the penitentiary for one year was
S39, 420 / For four years, my first term
of office, 1851, $50. | caused to be paid
into the State treasury in cash $685.
12I.52. The net profit to the State in
money and the debt due in four years,
S97, 541. 80. The repairs and improve
ments in four years averaged Sl5,034.62,
making in all $50, 13S.4S for the four
years. | had no control OF the rent for
1886, that being managed by the Board
of Control appointed by the Legislature
of 1886. L wish to say now just word
touching the repairs and Improvements
upon the penitentiary. 1t has been sug-
gested that the prices paid for the re-
pairs made were too much. | have this
to say in that con nection, that the arch
itect and contractors of this city certi
fed, and portion of them swore to the
amounts as being reasonable and just.
These architects and contractors are
gentlemen of high character and honor
able standing at Jackson, and have
erected nearly all of the public build
ings as well as the private residences
that have been built in the city of Jack
son during the past ten or fifteen years.
The Judge, the bankers, the officials and
citizens here bore testimony to the high
character, fair dealing and honesty of
these contractors and architects. | do
not claim to know anything of the value
of such work. l approve of the enlarge
ment of the penitentiary because the
committee of the previous Legislature
recommended collections from that
source to be expended in a manner to
relieve the then convict system. As to
all the falsehood and truth that | have
seen published connected with the peni-
Tertiary, | have nothing to say except
that don't believe that there Is an
honest man living between the heavens
and the earth that would connect me
with any improper conduct touching
the matter, and if there are any of any
description who connect me directly or
remotely with any transactions out |
side Of that published in my messages,
or any knowledge of my improper |
conduct on the part of any one con- |
nected with it either directly or re-
motely, such person or persons are |
falsifiers of truth, slanderers and ira
ducers.
/ have lived more than halfa injury. /
| have served my country both in mill |
tary aud civil life, whenever called upon /
to do, and | leave to my countrymen to |
say how [ have discharged the duties
imposed upon me. After the war closed /
and during my service as State Senator |
from the district in which | now reside,
[ was appointed by the noble old Ro-
man, whilst he was in the executive de-
partment of State, Gov. Humphreys, in
connection with Col Giles III. Hilyer, to
go to the city of Washington and confer
with President johnson in behalf of our
great and grand chief, President Davis,
who was then confined in prison at For
tress Monroe. | have in my possession
that will be handed down to my chill
dren evidence of his appreciation in my
efforts with those of Col. Hillyer to have
him set at liberty.
] have been twice elected by your suf-
frages as your Chief Magistrate, and it
would not be frank in me to withhold
the fact that sometimes | feel somewhat
annoyed at the falsehoods INDUCED in
by those who have been pursuing me;
but dismiss it from my mind as a spe-
cies of contemplate trash that could
only emanate from depraved wretches
who drag their Shiny forms across the
paths of gentlemen. | beg your pardon
and the pardon of the people of MIssis-
sippi for referring to the miserable crea-
lures. Such loose rein and vicious ex-
amples, if not checked, produce moral
Ieprosy which, while it would not iniure
the authors, would have most delete
rious effect upon decent people. look
forward to the day when true journal
sm will be elevated, and / admonish the s
many heightened editors of Mississippi. !
who love right and despise wrong, who I
,eek to build up instead of tear down, 8
who contribute so much to the advance |
nent of the great interests of this COM q
nonwealth, TO let their influence be in a
.he direction of advanced thought and /
advanced civilization, for it eau be truly l
aid that nothing adds more to com I
nunity, to a State or to a city than a a
oig-brained, broad gagged, fair-minded $
journalist; and as citizen and as an Of 1
icial, | owe much to that class of Jour f
ialists, and the citizens of the State are r
,reatly their debtors, and in all our b
ropes and possibilities we depend upon T
hem as great factor to guide and di- \
ect US and put US and put US abreast b
With our most prosperous sisters in the s
.reat march of civilization.